Alun Wyn Jones missed most of Six Nations title decider to put kids to bed

Alun Wyn Jones has revealed he only saw the last 20 minutes of Friday night’s game in Paris which confirmed Wales as Six Nations champions – because he was putting his children to bed!

Rather than being glued to every minute of the decisive clash between France and Scotland, the father-of-two was on dad duties.

He then got to watch the final quarter as the Scots secured a 27-23 victory, a result which meant Wales taking the title and topping the table by four points.

Alun Wyn and his wife, Anwen, have two daughters – Mali, five, and Efa, who will be three next month.

“It was just a normal night really,” explained the Welsh captain.

“Kids to bed and then it was a bit of a small matter of a rugby match on that I caught the last 20 minutes of, so pretty standard really.”

Jones admits it was an unusual week in the wake of Wales being denied the Grand Slam at the death out in Paris last Saturday.

That heartbreaking defeat left them waiting on the result of France’s meeting with Scotland, a match rescheduled from February because of Covid cases in Les Bleus camp.

“The last 12 months has been very different, not only in the sporting world, but everywhere,” he said.

“It’s been very different in many ways and a long week, not preparing for a game that has a bearing on where you finish.

“So it’s been an oddity and a strange one.”

What will also be different is the means by which Wales will receive the Six Nations trophy.

Rather than doing so in a packed stadium in front of their fans, it will be presented to them at their Vale Resort base on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s funny,” said skipper Jones, who will be the man handed the silverware.

“In a way, this is very special because this is where we spend a lot of our time anyway.

“This is where I’ve been coming since I was part of the programme in U16s, U18s, U19s, intermediate levels to full seniors.

“So to have the opportunity to do it here is really special.

“Obviously, not to be able to share it with the fans is disappointing, but hopefully there will be opportunities for them to enjoy and have their time with the trophy further down the line.”

Reflecting on Wales’ Six Nations campaign, second row Jones said: “I am just really proud of the attitude on field, but also the discipline off field.

“Obviously we have had our blips like most environments have because of the situation, but to be able to come through it like we have just makes you proud, in the off field sense, in particular, because that’s enabled us to carry on and crack on, perform and train like we have.

“Considering the state of things and what was said coming into this campaign, to a man I am very proud to be associated with the staff and management and the current crop of players.”